8 9 4 



Hop Cultivation. 



[fee., 



The hills are usually planted 6 ft. 6 in. apart in both 

 directions. 



As in the Worcester system there are no bottom or middle 

 wires, and stumps with nails take the place of the bottom 

 wires. 



The top wires and poles are so arranged that two wires 

 cross one another immediately above the centre of each hill. 



Four strings are put to each hill ; these start from the top 

 wires and slope in on four sides and are fixed to the stumps 

 somewhat loosely, then the four strings of each hill are 

 tightened by being tied together at a height of about 4 ft. 6 in. 

 See Fig. 5. 



As in the Worcester system the strain is equal in all 

 directions and the wirework needs to be firmly anchored at 

 all the outside points. 



There are various other systems of training now in use, 

 but they are for the most part modifications of the three 

 described above. 



At this stage it may be well to compare the relative advan- 

 tages and disadvantages of the various training systems, as 

 it cannot be said that any one system is the best, but each 

 in turn excels in various points which may be summarised 

 as follows : — 



(i.) Quantity of Crop. — Closely-planted systems, or at 

 least systems with the greatest number of strings per acre, 

 usually produce the greatest crop, and this is especially the 

 case in unfavourable seasons when adverse weather condi- 

 tions or aphis may have checked the growth of the bine ; and 

 as it is in these adverse seasons that the price of hops is 

 usually highest the greater yield of the closely-planted 

 systems is of considerable importance. 



(ii.) Quality of Crop. — The systems with broad alleys and 

 fewer hills and strings produce the best quality hops, 

 especially in years when the crop is large, when the thickly- 

 planted gardens will tend to produce a large number of thin, 

 undeveloped hops. 



(iii.) Cost of Cultivation. — The initial cost of hop-sets and 

 planting is greatest in the closely-planted systems, as is also 

 the annual cost of cutting, earthing and slip digging, and the 

 cost of string. On the other hand, training costs more in 



